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At a press conference outside 12 Maple Terrace in New Dorp Beach on Saturday are, from left, Deirdre and Scott McGrath of Beacon of Hope NY; Dennis McKeon of Where to Turn; Councilman James Oddo; Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, and Joe and Ro McAllister of the South Beach Civic Association.
(Staten Island Advance/Virginia Sherry)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - It's time for a coordinated effort to identify and address health issues and other hazards of vacant, owner-abandoned and foreclosed homes in Sandy-ravaged neighborhood, said the community groups that organized a Saturday morning press conference on Maple Terrace in New Dorp Beach.

The problems range from interior and exterior mold infestation to standing water, debris and weeds, as well as roving rats, raccoons and opossums.

"We've been up and down these blocks, taking pictures and documentation and sending it to local officials," said New Dorp Beach resident Scott McGrath, who founded Beacon of Hope NY with his wife, Deirdre, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The objective is to "create a data bank of all abandoned houses," said Dennis McKeon, executive director of the nonprofit Where to Turn, who estimates there may be 250 to as many as 400 Sandy-abandoned homes on Staten Island.

"We're reaching out to all Islanders to report [the location] of abandoned homes," he added.

The next step is determining ownership, "and at least have the exteriors cleaned up."

The ultimate goal is to hold individual owners, banks and mortgage companies responsible for remediation, and eventually see the homes rebuilt and occupied again. 

MOLD'S CHALLENGE

Native Islander Elaine Kelly, who suffers from multiple medical problems as a result of previous mold exposure, created the "All Things Mold Environmental Discussion Group" on Facebook the day after Sandy roared across the borough.

"It's very important that everyone tell the truth [about mold]. I don't wnat anyone to suffer like I did," she said.

"The problems stemming from Sandy are metastasizing," said Councilman James Oddo, noting that mold is a challenge at two levels: the health implications, and legal issues because of the well-established sanctity of property rights.

"How can we go into abandoned property and get the situation rectified?" he asked.

For starters, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygience must "demonstrate empathy, and hold hands a little bit," Oddo said.

The agency "has not gone the extra mile," he charged. Its representatives "need to come here and act like a partner in government. It's a team effort--everybody has to pitch in.

"You should be as passionate about these people's lives as you are about 16-ounce Cokes," Oddo said, addressing city Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, who was not present.

Mold "is a major problem," added Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, noting the dual challenges of identifying owners of abandoned properties and contacting banks. Her office has a list of 20 homes with mold complaints.

"In some cases, the banks have removed the mold as good citizens," she said.

"And we want the Department of Health to work with us," she continued. "We need you to be partners with us, and acknowledge that mold is a hazard."---Follow @siadvance on Twitter, join us on Facebook